I have a dear friend who visited me in Boston last summer, from her home in NC. Because she's completely awesome, and a great guest to boot, she made me a matching necklace and earrings from garnet and silver. The colours are absolutely completely me, and the pair is just gorgeous. However, the silver beads she used obviously contain nickel, because my neck broke out within about a day of wearing it

Now, i do not change my jewelry daily. I pick something to wear and keep it on for weeks at a time. I could use the necklace just to wear for special occasions, but i like it enough for every day wear. I don't want to "save" it i want to use it!

So what methods are available to coat the necklace with resin or polymer or something non-toxic that will seal in the nickel and not harm the garnet (or maroon agate/quartz)?

I realise i could just re-string the entire necklace myself, using my own battle-tested beads that i am not allergic to. That is my last resort, because i really want to use the gift she made me, not half of her beads and half of mine. I am willing to coat the beads individually and then restring it, if whatever substance exists is bad for stones but works on metal.

(I know this could have gone in beads but it is a generic jewelry question about nickel/silver alloy, and many more pieces of jewelry are made of that than just beads, and many people besides me are allergic. The answer will be broadly applicable to more than just beads.)

Thanks a ton Craftster. I rely upon your vast and collective knoweldge

I am personally in love with jewelry shield, I too have a nickel allergy. It is a brush on coating and it is clear, works like nail polish. You may be able to avoid getting any on the garnets *it has a small brush like a nail polish brush* and just get on the metal that is on your skin.

It's only an idea, never really tested it myself, but along the same lines as April suggested. Clear nail polish. I've used it plenty of times to clear-coat or add a gloss over a matte finish on models and miniatures. You can always using something as a mask for the gems to keep them safe, too.